Rich in Proteins and Nutrients, Kootu is a combination of Lentils/Paruppu and vegetables or greens with a mild seasoning. Almost any vegetables or Greens can be used in the easy breezy preparation of the kootu,each imparting their own flavor. Today`s Kootu recipe is made with Moog Dhal/Pasiparuppu with Mooringa leaves/Murungai keerai. I personally like the taste of Murungai Keerai and this Kootu is a favorite of mine. Makes for a decent side with rice, Appalam and Pickle.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup Moog Dhal/Pasiparuppu

2 cups packed chopped Mooringa leaves/Murungai keerai

1/4 cup finely chopped onions

4 green chilies slit lengthwise

1/4 cup cubed tomatoes

4 tablespoons grated coconut

1/2 teaspoon cumin

1/2 teaspoon mustard

1/2 teaspoon broken urid dhal/ullutham paruppu

2 teaspoons oil

salt to taste

Procedure:

Clean wash and chop the greens. Cook the dhal in a kadai or pressure cook for three whistles.

Grind the coconut with the cumin to a fine paste and set aside.

Heat oil in a kadai and add the mustard. When it splutters, add the urid dhal and when it turns to a light brown color, add the onions and green chilies. When the onions turn turns soft, add the tomatoes.

When the tomatoes turn soft, add the chopped greens and sauté well for few seconds ( do not overdo as it may turn the greens bitter ) .Add 1/4 cup of water and cover on medium heat until the greens are cooked.

Finally add the cooked Dhal, ground coconut, salt and bring to a boil. Simmer until kootu consistency is reached as shown in the pic.

Serve with rice, appalam or pickle.TIPS: I cook the dhal to three whistles but it may take lesser time depending on the dhal and water you use. Do not overcook the dhal as the same time. 1/2 a teaspoon of sambar powder can be added if little spice is needed.

It has been ages since I had murungai keerai. Somebody else mentioned that they were able to find it in an Chinese grocery store and I have been going to one near my house regularly to get it but its not available here. That's one bowl of comforting kootu.

Soma, they are the leaves of the Drumstick plant.Please refer the link below:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moringa_oleiferaand For the pic of the leaves take a look here:http://cilantro-cilantro.blogspot.com/2010/03/murungai-keerai-thani-sarumooringa.html

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